Adjusting device for spinal fractures and dislocations



E. T. KELLEY Aug. 3, 1937.

ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR SPINAL FRACTURES AND DISLOCATIONS Filed June 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I jwuc/nm Edwcmdlllfedqy E. T. KELLEY Aug. 3, 1937.

ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR SPINAL FRACTURES AND DISLOCATIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1935 mwq mm El WW my; w (11in amen kw Edward ZZHeLlcy Grim/"Mp Patented Aug. 3, 1937 PATENT OFFICE- ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR SPINAL FRAC- TURES AND DISLOCATIONS Edward Theron Kelley, Kingstree; S. 0. Application June 12, 1935, Serial No. 26,256

15 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjusting device for use in adjusting the vertebrae of the spine following a fracture or dislocation, an object of the invention being to' provide a simple and. eflicient apparatus which can beset up, readily onl any kind of a table or other flat-top support and which will hold the patient in proper position following reduction so that it is possible readily to place a plaster cast aboutthe body of 10 the patient Without subjecting him to the discomforts incident to the employment of hammocks. such as commonly used.

A further object is to provide an apparatus 7 ofthis character which is adaptable to fractures 15 or dislocations at any points along the spine,

simple means being employed whereby pressure canbe applied to the vertebrae under treatment so as to cause them to open apart inwardly or forwardly to correct positions and to be maintained' in such positions during the application of'the cast;

A still further 'object'is to provide an'apparatus which can be usedwith persons of difl'erent sizes and which permits the application of the neces-' 25 sary gauze and plaster without disturbingthe position of the patient after'he has once been placed properly on the apparatus. v,

A still further object is to provide an apparatus; which allows the patient to rest upon his back during the entire operation of adjustment and application of the cast so that he will experience no difli'culty in breathing;

With" theforegoing' and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists ofcertain novel details-of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter'more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being'understood thatchanges may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from, the spirit of the invention as claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention'has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus in use, the position of a patient thereon being indicated by dotted lines and portions of the appa ratus being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 3' is a section on line 33, Figure 2.

Figure4 is'a plan View of one end portion of the flexible splint forming a part of the apparatus,- the same being shown in engagement with its combined lock and support. 55 Figure" 5 is a plan view of and support.

Figure dis a side elevation of the upper end portionth'ereofi-the adjacent portion of 'the'fiexin blesplint being indicated by dotted lines. 60 Figurei'l is aaview partly in elevation and partl-y the combined lock porting post and that end of the base bar adapted to engage therein. 7

Figure 10 is an enlarged transverse section through the flexible splint and those parts ex--. tending thereover and thereunder after. a cast has been applied to a patient supported on the splint.

Referring to the figures by characters of ref erence, l designates an elongated base bar preferably tubular and provided at its ends with short longitudinal slots ,2 and 3 respectively. Fitted on one-of the slotted ends of this bar is a sleeve 4 carried by a cross bar 5 constituting a support engaging member and wings 6 can be extended laterally from the sleeve, these wings having openings 1. for the reception of bolts or the like whereby it is possible to fixedly attach the structure to some forms of tablesor other supports The sleeve 4 is adapted to be slid onto bar I and to be held thereto by a. set screw 8.

.Another' sleeve 9 is movable onto the slotted end of bar'l so as to abut against sleeve 4 and thissleeve 9 has a diametrical pin l0 adapted to enter slot 3 so as to hold sleeve 4 against rotation upon bar I A post ll extends upwardly from sleeve.9 and is provided near its upper end withan opening l2 into which extends a key l3.

The other end of the bar I projects into a removable sleeve l4 provided with a diametrical pin I5 which extends into the slot 2 so as to prevent relative rotation of the sleeve l4 and bar I.- A post l6 extends from the sleeve l4 in an upward direction and has a collar l1 adjustable therealong to anyv desired position where it can be held by a set screw I8. A stem l9' projects from the collar ll substantially at right angles to the post l6 and has a, terminal hook or the like for detachably supporting a halter 2| of any suitable construction used for supporting the head of I a patient.

An intermediate portion of bar I is formed with an annular enlargement'ZZ in the central portion of which is located a tapered opening 23 arranged diametrically opposite a socket 24. A sleeve 25 is adapted. to be slipped onto bar I and to fit snugly on the enlargement 22 and this sleeve is secured to the middle portion of'a cross bar 26 which constitutes a support engaging member which can be reinforced by braces'21.

An opening 28 is provided in the top 01' the sleeve and is so located that when the sleeve is in proper position, the openings 28' and 23 will register.

Sockets 29 are provided at the ends of bar 26 and detachably hold the lower ends of side posts 30 joined at their upper ends by a handle bar 3|.

Seated in the openings 23 and 23 and the socket 24 is the tapered lower end 32 of a combined supporting and locking post 33 and obviously when this post is in position the sleeve 25 will be held securely to bar I because the tapered end 32 will act as a locking key.

Post 33 has one or more diametrical openings 34 and its upper end, as shown particularly in Figure 6, is reduced in diameter to form a short stud 36 at the base of which is located an annular shoulder 31. A portion of the stud 36 is beveled as shown at 38 while the remaining'portion is undercut as at 39 to provide a crescent-shaped lip 40 which overhangs a portion of the shoulder 31. That portion of the shoulder which is overhung by this lipis beveled as shown at 4|. The

distance between the plane of the bottom surface of lip 40 and the nearest portion of shoulder 31 is slightly greater than the thickness of a resilient splint hereinafter described and which constitutes a part of the present invention.

Mounted on bar I are a desired number of sleeves 42 each of which has a set screw 43 whereby it can be secured in any desired position on the bar after the sleeve has been rotated and slid to said position. An arm 44. extends radially from each sleeve and has a socket 45 extending into its free end, this socket being interiorly screw threaded to receive a screw threaded stem 46 projecting from one end of a thrust rod 41. One or more openings 48 are provided in this rod for the reception of a suitable key whereby the rod can be rotated for the purpose of feeding it toward or from arm 44. The free end of the rod has a small lug 49 projecting from the center thereof. In Figure 1 of the drawings one of these thrust rods has been shown in active position while the other has been shown swung downwardly out of the way.

The flexible splint has been indicated at 50 and consists of a broad blade of steel of high tensile strength and provided along its longitudinal center with a series of small apertures 5| each of which is of such size as to receive one of the studs 49.

Adjacent to the center of one end portion of the band 50 is an opening 52 adapted to receive the upper end portion of the post 34 while to the other end of the band is joined a cross plate 53 from which projects a screw threaded stem 54 having a longitudinal keyway 55. This stem projects through the opening I 2 and the key I3 projects into the keyway 55 so as thus to hold the stem against rotation in the post II. A nut 56 engages the stem 54 and thrusts through a strong spring 58 against post II.

In using this apparatus the several parts are assembled on a table or, under some conditions, will be already assembled therewith. The flexible splint formed of band 50 is placed in position by inserting stem 54 through opening I2, spring 58 and nut 56. Post 33 is rotated until the lip 40 extends toward post II. The apertured end of band or splint 50 is then lowered so that the reduced upper end of the post 33 will extend into the opening. Said post is then given a one-half turn so as to cause the lip 40 to swing over a portion of the band or splint as shown in Figure 6, thus locking the .band to the post and preventing it from being pulled therefrom when drawn at any angle. Shoulder 31 serves as a support for the band or splint.

Following the location and reduction of the fracture, a strip of felt F is placed along the band or splint 50 and the patient, on whom a stockingette S has been placed, is laid on this band, the halter 2| being fastened to the head so as to support it while, if the patient is conscious, he can grasp the handle bar 3| as shown. The

\ feet of the patient are secured to the table or any other structure and one of the sleeves 42 is adjusted to bring it directly under the fracture to be treated. The arm 44 of said sleeve is swung upwardly and thrust rod 41 is adjusted upwardly so as to bring its stud 49 into the opening 5| directly under the fracture. This adjustment is continued until the point of fracture has been moved upwardly a proper distance to cause the vertebrae to open inwardly or upwardly toward the front of the body. Gauze G is then wrapped around the body and splint, so that the splint will become encased between the gauze and the felt. Plaster P is then applied upon the gauze and around the body and after it has setthe body will be held at the proper curvature.

Following the setting of the plaster the post33 is given a one-half rotation so as to unlock it from band or splint 50. Nut .56 and spring 58 are removed from stem 54 and the post I1 and sleeve 9 are slipped off of bar I. The patient is then removed from the apparatus and the band or splint 50 is withdrawn longitudinally from the cast. Obviously, therefore, the body of the patient will be held at the proper curvature until healing of the fracture or displacement has been completely effected.

By using two or more of the thrust rods 41 and their parts, two or more fractures of the spine can be treated at one time, as will be apparent.

When the apparatus is not in use it can be easily collapsed for convenience in storage and transportation.

By providing the holes in the band or splint and the studs 49 on the thrust rods 41, these rods and the band-are held positively in assembled positions so that there is no danger of slippa e of one relative to the other.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the class described including a flexible back supporting splint attachable to a patients body for-encasement therewith in a plaster cast, means detachably joined to the ends of the splint for supporting said ends, and adjustable means for elevating an intermediate portion of the splint relative to its end supports.

2. Apparatus of the class described including a flexible back supporting splint attachableto a patients body for encasement therewith in a plaster cast, means for detachably supporting and holding the ends of said splint, and adjustable means for elevating any selected intermediate portion of the splint relative to" the end supports. 6

3. Apparatus of the class described including a flexible back supporting splint attachable to a patients body for encasement therewith in a. plaster cast, means for detachably supporting and holding the ends of said splint, adjustable means for elevating any selected intermediate portion of the splint relative to the end supports, and an of the splint relative to the end supports, a tension device joined to the splint, and means cooperating with one of the end supports for regulating the tension of said device.

5. Apparatus of the class described including a flexible back supporting splint, supports for the respective ends of the splint, means carried by one of said supports for entering one end portion of the splint, a retaining element carried by said means for lapping a portion of the splint to hold it to its support when the splint is subjected toa pull at any angle, said support being rotatable to release the splint from its holding means, and adjustable means for flexing and supporting the splint at any predetermined point between the end supports.

6. Apparatus of the class described including a flexible back supporting splint, supports for the respective ends of the splint, means carried by one of said supports for entering one end portion of the splint, a retaining element carried by said means for lapping a portion of the splint to hold it to its support when the splint is subjected to a pull at any angle, said support being rotatable to release the splint from its holding means, adjustable means for flexing and supporting the splint at any'predetermined point between the end supports, and a tension device for the splint yieldable during the flexing of the splint.

7. Apparatus of the class described including a flexible back supporting splint, supports for the respective ends of the splint, means carried by one of said supports for entering one end portion of the splint, a retaining element carried by said means for lapping a portion of the splint to hold it to its support when the splint is subjected to a pull at any angle, said support being rotatable to release the splint from its holding means, adjustable means for flexing and supporting the splint at any predetermined point between the end supports, a tension device for the splint yieldable during the flexing of the splint, said tension device comprising a screw threaded stem projecting from the splint through one of the end supports, an adjusting element thereon, and a spring interposed between said end support and the adjusting element.

8. Apparatus of the class described including a flexible band constituting a back supporting splint attachable to a patients body for encasement therewith in a plaster cast, end supports detachably joined to the splint, adjustable means between said end supports for flexing the band at any predetermined point between its ends, and cooperating means on the band and said adjustable means for holding them against relative slippage while the band is flexed.

9. Apparatus of the class described including a flexible band constituting a back supporting splint attachable to a patients body for encasement therewith in a plaster cast, end supports detachably joined to the splint, adjustable means between said end supports for flexing the band at any predetermined point between its ends, cooperating means on the band and said adjustable means for holding them against relative slippage while the band is flexed, and a tension device for the band.

10. Apparatus of the class described including a base bar, support engaging members connected thereto for holding it against rotation, posts extending from said members, a flexible band detachably engaged and supported by the posts and constituting a back supporting splint attachable to a patients body for encasement therewith in a plaster cast, and means adjustably mounted upon the bar for flexing the band at any predetermined point between the posts and supporting it in its flexed position.

11. Apparatus of the class described including a base bar, support engaging members connected thereto for holding it against rotation, posts extending from said members, a flexible band detachably engaged and supported by the posts and constituting a back supporting splint attachable to a patients body for encasement therewith in a plaster cast, means adjustably mounted upon the bar for flexing the band at any predetermined point between the posts and supporting it in its flexed position, and yielding means for holding the band under tension while being flexed.

12. Apparatus of the class described including a base bar, support engaging members connected thereto for holding it against rotation, posts extending from said members, a flexible band detachably engaged and supported by the posts and constituting a back supporting splint attachable to a patients body for encasement therewith in a plaser cast, means adjustably mounted upon the bar for flexing the band at any predetermined point between the posts and supporting it in its flexed position, said means comprising a sleeve mounted on the bar, an arm extending therefrom, a thrust bar having a threaded portion engaging the arm, and means on the thrust bar for engagement with the band.

13. Apparatus of the class described including a base bar, support engaging members connected thereto for holding it against rotation, posts extending from said members, a flexible band detachably engaged and supported by the posts and constituting a back supporting splint attachable to a patients body for encasement therewith in a plaster cast, means adjustably mounted upon the bar for flexing the band at any predetermined point between the posts and supporting it in its flexed position, another post detachably mounted on the bar, a stem adjustable longitudinally thereof, and head supporting means carried by the stem.

14. Apparatus of the class described including a base bar, support engaging members connected thereto for holding it against rotation, posts extending from said members, a flexible band detachably engaged and supported by the posts and constituting a back supporting splint, means adjustably mounted upon the bar for flexing the band at any predetermined point between the posts and supporting it in its flexed position, a handle bar supported by one of the support engaging members and extended transversely above the band, another post mounted on the bar, and head supporting means adjustably joined to said post.

15. The method of applying a cast during the treatment of a fractured or dislocated spine which includes the step of anchoring a patient back downwardly on a flexible splint, flexing the splint upwardly at the point of fracture or dislocation, wrapping the body'and splint with gauze or the like, applying a plaster covering to the gauze, and subsequently withdrawing the flexible splint from between the gauze and the patient.

EDWARD T. KELLEY. 

